Firefighter Trainee Hurt in 50-Foot Fall

After plunging at least 50 feet onto concrete and breaking several bones during a training exercise Tuesday, a Los Angeles Fire Department recruit was in serious condition at County-USC Medical Center, fire officials said.

Michelle Mapstead, 28, was climbing an iron ladder mounted outside a seven-story concrete tower at Fire Station No. 89 on Laurel Canyon Boulevard, just south of Sherman Way, when she fell about 1:30 p.m., Fire Department Battalion Chief Ralph Ramirez said.

Falling from between the fifth and sixth floors, Mapstead broke three ribs, fractured her right leg and suffered various lower-back injuries, Ramirez said.

The injured recruit was taken by helicopter to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, where she was initially listed in critical but stable condition, hospital spokeswoman Linda Cole said. Mapstead was later transferred to County/USC where fire officials said she was to be examined by neurologists.

One of 45 recruits in the third week of an 18-week training program, Mapstead was performing the same exercise she had completed 24 times before, Ramirez said.

For the exercise, the trainees scale a vertical ladder, climb onto the roof and descend through an internal staircase, Ramirez said. No nets or safety devices are used because it is essential to replicate a real-life situation.

“They have quite extensive training before they get to this stage,” Ramirez said. “Even the training phase of firefighting is dangerous. It’s necessary to build their confidence and lessen their anxiety.”

The recruits had already done the training exercise twice Tuesday, Ramirez said, adding that this was the first time such an accident occurred during training.

Although other recruits were on the ladder below Mapstead when she fell, no one else was hurt, Ramirez said.

The cause of Mapstead’s fall is under investigation.